Concussions have long been deemed a mysterious injury; seemingly invisible to the naked eye. If you're like most people, hearing the word "concussion" probably brings to mind giant football players clashing together or a soccer star taking a ball to the head. What you probably don't think of is the way it impacts a person's life -- I didn't until it happened to me. Concussions are challenging and often life changing, but not all for the worse. Here are 5 life lessons I learned from a concussion.
1. There's no shame in asking for help.
Having a concussion is frustrating because all of the sudden your daily routine leaves you feeling overwhelmed. As someone who is a high achiever, it's extremely challenging to ask for help from teachers, family, and friends. However, concussions taught me there's nothing wrong with needing help from time to time. Asking for help doesn't make you needy, it makes you human -- a lesson that took me a long time to learn.
2. Slow down.
Concussions cause the brain to work a bit slower than usual and for some of us Type A personalities that is torture. When your brain physically can't keep up with your plans you end up feeling exhausted. While it's not an easy lesson to learn for some of us, having a concussion teaches you how to slow down and take a break once in a while.
3. It's OK to cry.
If you have never experienced a concussion, there's one thing you should know: they make you extremely sensitive. The brain is trying to heal itself and is vulnerable, so becoming overstimulated (by things like loud noises or a crowd) causes us to be very emotional. Pre-concussions, it was rare that I would cry -- not even watching Nicholas Sparks movies. But when I had a concussion? I cried because I didn't know what I wanted to eat for dinner (true story). But who says crying is a bad thing? Concussions helped me realize that crying is not a sign of weakness, but a way to let off some steam.
4. Be patient.
Concussions differ from other injuries because it can be hard to see the healing process. One day you are feeling fine and try to go back to normal life, then the next day you are back to square one. It's frustrating to feel like you aren't making progress, but that's a lot like life. Having a concussion made me realize that good things are worth waiting for. You may not feel like you're moving fast enough, but sometimes you just have to be patient and wait it out.
5. You're stronger than you think.
Concussions are the worst. Not only does your brain feel like it could explode, but you're left absolutely exhausted as you wait for life to return to normalcy -- which seems so far away. But one thing is for sure: You will get through it. For me, normal was not exactly how I remembered it. I felt like I was picking up the pieces of the life I used to know and reconfiguring it into something new. It was frustrating and overwhelming, but it taught me that I'm stronger than I thought I was.
Working through concussions challenged me and took me on a journey I wasn't prepared for, but ultimately taught me a lot about life. Life is unpredictable; it throws out circumstances that we can't control, but you can choose the way they impact you. Make the choice to find the upsides and allow life's challenges to grow you.
